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Jamie Reed is an American anti-transgender extremist who wants to eliminate gender-affirming healthcare for adolescents and young adults. Reed is also part of the LGB separatist movement, founding the anti-trans organization LGB Courage Coalition in 2023.

Reed’s anti-trans extremism has been heavily promoted by other anti-trans activists, including Bari Weiss, Jesse Singal, Azeen Ghorayshi, Jonathan Chait, Andrew Bailey, Emily Yoffe, Stella O’Malley, Jennifer Block, Sasha Ayad, Konstantin Kisin, and Francis Foster, as well as conservative trans activists Aaron Terrell and Aaron Kimberly of Gender Dysphoria Alliance.

In December 2024, Reed became a co-host of the podcast Informed Dissent with Ben Appel, Corinna Cohn, Lisa Selin Davis, and “Eliza Mondegreen.”

Background

Jamie Lynn Smith was born in June 1980. After marrying Joshua David Rickly (born 1982), Jamie began using the name Jamie Lynn Smith-Rickly. During this time, Jamie was apparently using the email [email protected].

In 2009, Jamie Smith-Rickly, Zachary Smith, and Byron Case founded the Midwestern Liberty Foundation, but it was dissolved by the state of Missouri the following year for failure to submit required documents.

The couple had two children and later divorced.

Jamie then married librarian Tiger Reed, who at the time identified as a transgender man. They have Jamie’s two children from the first marriage as well as three foster children. In 2024, after announing a “detransition,” Tiger Reed began using the name Roxxanne Reed.

Reed earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri St. Louis and a master’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis. Reed began working at Washington in 2016.

Anti-trans activism

From 2018 until late 2022, Reed was a case manager at the Washington University Pediatric Transgender Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

Reed became increasingly upset that the clinic was not doing more psychological and psychiatric gatekeeping. As with many providers, Washington relied on patients to find a local therapist who would recommend them for treatment to reduce backlogs and improve patient care.

Reed was against prescribing hormone options for minors. Like many other people opposed to youth gender affirming care, Reed considers puberty blockers less problematic than hormones, but opposes those as well. Puberty blockers are a rarely-used short-term option prior to prescribing hormones. Some people opposed to gender-affirming care would prefer trans youth to stay on puberty blockers until they are adults, rather than start hormones and go through puberty with their non-transgender peers.

Like many other people opposed to gender-affirming care, Reed cites the conservative “Dutch protocol” that used extensive gatekeeping under a nationalized healthcare system.

2023 affidavit

In an affidavit presented to anti-trans Attorney General Andrew Bailey dated February 7, 2023, Reed stated:

I witnessed staff at the Center provide puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to children without complete informed parental consent and without an appropriate or accurate assessment of the needs of the child. I witnessed children experience shocking injuries from the medication the Center prescribed. And I saw the Center make no attempt or effort to track adverse outcomes of patients after they left the Center.

[…]

One patient came to the Center identifying as a “communist, attack helicopter, human, female, maybe non binary.” The child was in very poor mental health and early on reported that they had no idea their gender identity.

[…]

Most children who come into the Center were assigned female at birth. Nearly all of them have serious comorbidities including, autism, ADHD, depression, anxiety, PTSD, trauma histories, OCD, and serious eating disorders.

[…]

last year Dr. [Chris] Lewis and Dr. [Sarah] Garwood told the Missouri legislature, “at no point are surgeries on the table for anyone under 18” and also, “surgeries are not an option for anyone under 18 years of age.” This was a lie. The Center regularly refers minors for gender transition surgery. The Center routinely gives out the names and contact information of surgeons to those under the age of 18. At least one gender transition surgery was performed by Dr. Allison Snyder-Warwick at St. Louis Children’s Hospital in the last few years.

[…]

The Center had two in-house psychologists. They were Dr. Alex Maixner and Dr. Sarah Girresch-Ward as well as several outside therapists.

[…]

Doctors knew that many of our former patients had stopped taking cross-sex hormones and were detransitioning. Doctors did not share this information with parents or children.

[…]

Children come into the clinic using pronouns of inanimate objects like “mushroom,” “rock,” or “helicopter.” Children come into the clinic saying they want hormones because they do not want to be gay. Children come in changing their identities on a day-to-day basis. Children come in under clear pressure by a parent to identify in a way inconsistent with the child’s actual identity.

[…]

I created a “red flag” list of children where other staff and I had concerns. The doctors told me I had to stop raising these concerns. I was not allowed to maintain the red flag list after that. During the time I was creating the red flag list, noting my concern that these children were not good candidates for permanent, irreversible medication treatment, the doctors would simply send these children to our in-house therapists. Those therapists would inevitably provide letters to the doctors, and then the doctors would say there can’t be any concern over these children because another therapist was fine with prescribing puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones.

[…]

One doctor at the Center, Dr. Chris Lewis, is giving patients a drug called Bicalutamide. I know of at least one patient at the Center who was advised by the renal department to stop taking Bicalutamide because the child was experiencing liver damage. The child’s parent reported this to the Center through the patient’s online self-reporting medical chart (MyChart). The parent said they were not the type to sue, but “this could be a huge PR problem for you.”

[…]

the Center has prescribed puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones hundreds of times where they should not have.

Reed (2023)

Particularly upsetting to Reed are young people whose identities are fluid:

Patient was on hormones and had decompensating mental health, outlandish name changes, self-diagnosis of multiple personalities (DID).

[…]

Patient has desisted in male identity to a vague non binary with their own self-diagnosis of autism. Patient has changed their name numerous times and is clearly struggling with thoughts about desistence,

[..]

Patient changed to non-binary identity, then changed preferred name and stated that their identity was shifting day to day.

Reed (2023)

Reed gave several other vivid anecdotes, including one about a youth sex offender, and others about youths with history of self-harm, sexual trauma, forced cross-dressing, factitious blindness, and “gender identities that were likely the result of social contagion.”

2023 Free Press piece

Two days after the affidavit was signed, Reed repeated these allegations in the Free Press for anti-trans activist Bari Weiss.

  • “clinics like the one where I worked are creating a whole cohort of kids with atypical genitals—and most of these teens haven’t even had sex yet.”
  • “Some weeks it felt as though almost our entire caseload was nothing but disturbed young people.”
  • “Another disturbing aspect of the center was its lack of regard for the rights of parents.”
  • “In 2019, a new group of people appeared on my radar: desisters and detransitioners.”
  • “I believe that to ensure the safety of American children, we need a moratorium on the hormonal and surgical treatment of young people with gender dysphoria.”

Reed and the clinic’s nurse, Karen Hamon, kept a private spreadsheet, which they called the “red flag list.” Following a 2021 review that contained criticisms and a 2022 retreat where Reed was allegedly told “Get on board, or get out,” Reed transferred to a different department.

2023 New York Times profile

Anti-trans activist Azeen Ghorayshi of the New York Times presented Reed as part of a long-running “cisgender person under siege” series the paper has been running since the early 2000s.

Ghorayshi mentioned the following people:

  • Jamie Reed, former case manager at a youth gender clinic at Washington University in St. Louis
  • Bari Weiss, anti-trans activist who first published Reed’s allegations in the Free Press
  • Andrew Bailey, Missouri’s anti-trans Attorney General
  • Colleen Schrappen, reporter at St. Louis Post-Dispatch
  • Annelise Hanshaw, reporter at Missouri Independent
  • Andrew D. Martin, Washington University in St. Louis Chancellor

Reporter Evan Urquhart wrote, “unlike other stories covering these allegations, the Times downplays the falsehoods and seeks to make a case that despite Reed’s lies there’s something to be taken seriously in her attacks on a highly-regarded, University-linked clinic serving transgender youth.”

LGBT Courage Coalition and purge of trans members

Reed founded LGBT Courage Coalition in 2023 as a Substack and later registered it as a nonprofit. About a year later, Reed purged all trans leadership and renamed in LGB Courage Coailition, installing Lauren Leggieri as co-executive director.

Lawsuits

In 2024 a subpoena was issued to Reed in the matter of Noe v. Parson (Missouri case # 23AC-CC04530). In it, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc. and ACLU of Missouri Foundation requested communication between Reed and Karen Hamon, as well as any communication with Missouri officials and families at Washington University Pediatric Transgender Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

The subpoena also requested “All communications, including any documents exchanged, concerning Gender-Affirming Care involving media or between you and any media outlet or any member of the media,” as well as specifically requesting communications with Jesse Singal. Those requests were later removed.

The subpoena also requested any communication with the following organizations:

2025 activity

In July 2025, Reed was a panelist at the 2025 US Federal Trade Commission anti-trans workshop.

Also in 2025, Reed was named as part of the core team at anti-trans website Resilience Health Network.

References

Conlon, Rose (January 28, 2025). Transgender Kansans urge lawmakers to reject bill banning gender-affirming care for youth. KMUW https://www.kmuw.org/2025-01-28/transgender-kansans-urge-lawmakers-to-reject-bill-banning-gender-affirming-care-for-youth

Schrappen, Colleen (November 2, 2024). Her life changed after calling out transgender care at WashU. But she’s pushing ahead. St. Louis Post-Dispatch https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/government-politics/article_ca9fa3a6-9588-11ef-8910-6f3a4a9697f9.html

Urquhart, Evan (Oct 4, 2024). TWIBS: Tiger Reed Tells All. Assigned Media https://www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-news/tiger-reed-tells-all

Suntrip, Jack (October 1, 2024). Jamie Reed testifies in defense of Missouri state law on transgender health care. St. Louis Post-Dispatch https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/government-politics/article_416bc1de-7f33-11ef-b125-e37291fc739f.html

Urquhart, Evan (August 22, 2024). How Conservative Officials Are Using Private Medical Records For Their Anti-Trans Agenda. them https://www.them.us/story/trans-patients-medical-records-anti-trans-agenda

Graham, Michael (February 27, 2025). Gender Clinic Whistleblower to Testify Before NH House Committee Monday. NH Journal https://nhjournal.com/gender-clinic-whistleblower-to-testify-before-nh-house-committee-monday/

Hanshaw Annelise (September 30, 2024). Former caseworker testifies in defense of Missouri transgender health care ban. Missouri Independent https://missouriindependent.com/2024/09/30/former-caseworker-testifies-in-defense-of-missouri-transgender-health-care-ban/

Lovelace, Eric (September 30, 2024). St. Louis gender clinic whistleblower testifies in Noe v. Parson. KOMU https://www.komu.com/news/midmissourinews/st-louis-gender-clinic-whistleblower-testifies-in-noe-v-parson/article_2f612e3c-7f53-11ef-ad63-abba11ecb77e.html

Reed, Erin (October 13, 2023). Family Of Missouri Trans Kid: Jamie Reed Lied About Liver Damage, Caused By COVID Drug And Not HRT. Erin in the Morning https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/family-of-missouri-trans-kid-jamie

Urquhart, Evan (August 23, 2023). NYT Treats Key Source’s Many Lies as an Aside in Latest Anti-Trans Smear. Assigned https://www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-news/nyt-treats-key-sources-many-lies-as-an-aside-in-latest-anti-trans-smear

Sapir, Leor (May 2, 2023). Nothing to See Here: After a suspicious internal report, a truly comprehensive and impartial investigation of Washington University’s Transgender Center is needed more than ever. City Journal https://www.city-journal.org/article/nothing-to-see-here

Yurcaba, Jo (April 24, 2023). St. Louis gender clinic accusations ‘unsubstantiated,’ internal investigation finds. NBC News https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/st-louis-gender-clinic-accusations-unsubstantiated-internal-investigat-rcna81233

Hanshaw, Annelise (April 24, 2023). Former employee of St. Louis transgender clinic reaffirms allegations of misconduct. Missouri Independent https://missouriindependent.com/2023/04/24/former-employee-of-st-louis-transgender-reaffirms-allegations-of-misconduct/

Henry, Vesper; Tirrell, Alyssa (April 13, 2023). Timeline: The unfolding saga between The Free Press and a Missouri gender clinic. Media Matters for America https://www.mediamatters.org/bari-weiss/timeline-unfolding-saga-between-free-press-and-missouri-gender-clinic

Schrappen, Colleen (March 20, 2023). Parents of patients at St. Louis transgender center fear privacy breaches, file complaints. St. Louis Post-Dispatch https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/parents-of-patients-at-st-louis-transgender-center-fear-privacy-breaches-file-complaints/article_6b623743-e441-5119-92a4-27c19547e4b2.html

Urquhart, Evan (March 11, 2023). Jamie Reed’s Misinformation Exposed by Jesse Singal. Assigned Media https://www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-news/jamie-reeds-misinfo-exposed-by-jesse-singal

Singal, Jesse (March 10, 2023). Gender-Clinic Whistleblower Jamie Reed Has Provided A Detailed Account Of Her Most Controversial Claim, Including The Names Of Those Involved. Singal-Minded https://jessesingal.substack.com/p/gender-clinic-whistleblower-jamie

Lynch, James (March 8, 2024). ACLU Targets Whistleblower Jamie Reed in Fight against Missouri Law Banning Transgender Procedures for Minors. National Review https://www.nationalreview.com/news/aclu-targets-whistleblower-jamie-reed-in-fight-against-missouri-law-banning-transgender-procedures-for-minors/

Urquhart, Evan (March 8, 2023). There Are Two Sides to the Debate on Health Care for Trans Kids. Here’s What You’re Missing About One of Them. Slate https://slate.com/technology/2023/03/trans-youth-health-care-debate-affirmative-new-york-times-jamie-reed.html

Singal, Jesse (March 7, 2023). Journalists Are Exhibiting Far Too Much Credulousness Toward Jamie Reed’s Critics. Singal-Minded https://jessesingal.substack.com/p/journalists-are-exhibiting-far-too

Cooper, Ryan (March 2, 2023). The Useful Idiots Fueling the Right-Wing Transphobia Panic. The American Prospect https://prospect.org/blogs-and-newsletters/tap/2023-03-02-right-wing-transphobia-panic/

Danner, Chas (March 3, 2023). Whistleblower’s Claims About a St. Louis Transgender Center Are Under Fire. New York https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2023/03/jamie-reeds-claims-about-transgender-care-are-under-fire.html

Kesslen, Ben (March 2, 2023). Parents hit back at Missouri trans clinic whistleblower Jamie Reed. New York Post https://nypost.com/2023/03/02/parents-hit-back-at-missouri-trans-clinic-whistleblower-jamie-reed/

Hanshaw, Annelise (March 1, 2023), Families dispute whistleblower’s allegations against St. Louis transgender center. Missouri Independent https://missouriindependent.com/2023/03/01/transgender-st-louis-whistleblower/

Ballentine, Summer (February 10, 2023). Missouri officials investigate transgender youth clinic. AP News https://apnews.com/article/josh-hawley-jamie-reed-st-louis-missouri-health-83953afb898dff7caa2b542c91480069

Burke, Cathy (February 9, 2023). Whistleblower lifts lid on St. Louis kids gender clinic: ‘Morally and medically appalling.’ New York Post https://nypost.com/2023/02/09/whistleblower-lifts-lid-on-st-louis-kids-gender-clinic/

Hanshaw, Annelise (February 9, 2023 ). Missouri agencies launch investigation into health center for transgender youth. Missouri Independent https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/09/missouri-agencies-launch-investigation-into-health-center-for-transgender-youth/

St. John’s, Tower Grove (June 8, 2012). Jamie Smith-Rickly / [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/towergrovechurch/posts/please-make-reservations-soon-so-that-the-chefs-can-plan-appropriately-celebrate/10151786138200576/

Selected publications by the Reeds

Reed, Jamie (January 30, 2025). I’m a trans-clinic whistleblower — Trump is right to ban sex changes for kids. New York Post https://nypost.com/2025/01/30/opinion/im-a-clinic-whistleblower-trans-kids-ban-will-save-lives/

Reed, Jamie (December 3, 2024). Why I Hope the Supreme Court Upholds the Ban on Child Transition. The Free Press https://www.thefp.com/p/supreme-court-gender-transiton-skrmetti-whistleblower-jamie-reed

Reed, Roxxanne (September 9, 2024). I Spent 13 Years Living as a Man. But After My Spouse’s Exposé, I’m Detransitioning. The Free Press https://www.thefp.com/p/tiger-jamie-reed-detransition-wash-u-transgender-affirming-care

Reed, Jamie (February 7, 2023). Affidavit of Jamie Reed https://ago.mo.gov/docs/default-source/press-releases/2-07-2023-reed-affidavit—signed.pdf

Reed, Jamie (December 31, 2023). Jamie Reed: The Courage to Admit You’re Wrong. The Free Press https://www.thefp.com/p/whistleblower-jamie-reed-courage-admit-wrong

Reed, Jamie (February 9, 2023). I Thought I Was Saving Trans Kids. Now I’m Blowing the Whistle.The Free Press https://www.thefp.com/p/i-thought-i-was-saving-trans-kids

Media

Genetic Literacy Project with Cameron English, Jamie Reed, and Liza Dunn (April 24, 2025). GLP podcast: Common sense ‘out the window.’ Whistleblower Jamie Reed challenges safety, efficacy of ‘gender-affirming care.’ https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2025/04/24/glp-podcast-common-sense-out-the-window-wash-u-whistleblower-jamie-reed-exposes-bad-science-behind-gender-affirming-care/

America Reports (December 4, 2024). Whisleblower implores SCOTUS to uphold the ban on child transition. Fox News https://www.foxnews.com/video/6365541665112

Emily Yoffe (February 14, 2023). Jamie Reed Blows the Whistle on Pediatric Gender Care. The Free Press https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6sPG7gleOs

Stella O’Malley and Sasha Ayad (May 5, 2023). EPISODE 112: A Conversation with Gender Clinic Whistleblower, Jamie Reed. Gender: A Wider Lens https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QafpwKrz-lw

Konstantin Kisin and Francis Foster (April 16, 2023). Trans Clinic Whistleblower Speaks Out. TRIGGERnometry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbuGMbqjsSw

Konstantin Kisin and Francis Foster (June 14, 2023). The Dark Truth: What Happens At a Trans Clinic? TRIGGERnometry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ue19IjK3ELA

Gender Dysphoria Alliance [Aaron Terrell and Aaron Kimberly] (March 19, 2023). EP60 – The sound a whistle makes – with Jamie Reed. Transparency https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7BkuJBwbUU

Gender Dysphoria Alliance [Aaron Terrell and Aaron Kimberly] (August 6, 2023). EP 71 – The Denton Report – with Jamie Reed. Transparency https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7BkuJBwbUU

Resources

X/Twitter (x.com)

YouTube (youtube.com)

Resilience Health Network (resiliencehealth.network)

  • Core Team
  • resiliencehealth.network/committed-to-individual-health

Jennifer Block is an American writer and anti-transgender activist. Block is a key historical figure in 21st-century media attacks on trans healthcare.

Block is an embedded reporter with anti-trans hate groups like Genspect, attending their events and laundering their extremist views into mainstream media.

Overview

Block believes that US medical consensus about care for trans and gender diverse youth is a scandal in the making. As similar bigots in media did in the late 1970s, Block keeps rewriting the same FUD propaganda piece and selling it to different outlets. The 1979 backlash eliminated healthcare options for many trans people that took four decades to reverse, and Block is at the forefront of this new backlash against our children.

Block’s work focuses on several anti-transgender positions:

  • disease models of gender diversity, especially “gender dysphoria”
  • psychological gatekeeping as a model of care
  • supporting strict gatekeeping of trans healthcare via centralized government control, developed under nationalized heath systems (so-called “gender clinics”) in the 20th century
  • the “rapid onset gender dysphoria” (ROGD) disease model: “More adolescents with no history of gender dysphoria—predominantly birth registered females—are presenting at gender clinics.”
  • disproportionately amplifying outliers and bad outcomes: Andrew Martinez (suicide) and Chloe Cole (ex-trans movement)
  • not describing a single positive outcome
  • the ex-trans movement, especially “detransitioners“

Background

Jennifer Lori “Jen” Block was born on November 22, 1976 to surgeon Leonard Block (born 1948) and Roberta Block (born 1947). Block has two siblings. Block’s parents divorced, which may explain Block’s animosity toward the medical establishment.

Block earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Boston University in 1998. Block held editorial roles at Ms. magazine, Plenty, Our Bodies, Ourselves, and The OpEd Project.

Block’s articles and commentary have appeared in The BMJ, The Washington Post Magazine, Newsweek, The Cut, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, Pacific Standard, The Baffler, and Type Investigations (formerly The Investigative Fund at the Nation Institute).

Block is author of Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care (2007) and Everything Below the Waist: Why Health Care Needs a Feminist Revolution (2019).

“Mommy bloggers” and their fans are especially susceptible to anti-transgender radicalization and social contagion. Block thanks fellow anti-trans extremist Lisa Selin Davis in the acknowledgements for Pushed.

BMJ article series, 2023–

In 2023, Block was commissioned to write an investigative piece for the BMJ. The resulting piece was deeply slanted toward the views of conservative clinicians and anti-transgender activists.

An accompanying video featured conservative therapists Laura Edwards-Leeper and Erica Anderson, and gender-affirming endocrinologist Joshua Safer.

In 2025, Block revealed that BMJ had commissioned more work, but the British Medical Association killed it following negative response to Block’s 2023 article and video.

Supporters

Anti-trans activist Helen Joyce said of Block’s article: “Fantastic article, and so important that it appears in BMJ.” Anti-trans organization Rethink Identity Medicine Ethics also liked the piece.

It was also liked and shared by several of Block’s peers, including Sean CW Korsgaard, Liz Highleyman, Mark Tighe, Sonia Gallego, Michael Marshall (@m_c_marshall), Kevin Bass, Vinay Prassad, Dr. Dina McMillan, Milli Hill, Julia Mason, Moti Gorin, Charlotte Schubert, and Benjamin Ryan.

The staff at The BMJ issued a statement:

The BMJ believes in investigative journalism as a force for change. Over the past decade, our investigative journalism has unearthed research fraud and misconduct, prompted improvements in the transparency of clinical research, led to changes in guidelines and clinical practice, and triggered parliamentary inquiries.

High quality investigative journalism requires time to research, gather evidence, and ask questions. Developing in-depth stories is expensive, and we actively seek external funding to help expand our efforts. Current no-strings funding comes from Arnold Ventures and William McGuire. Past supporters include the European Commission and Open Society Foundations. In 2022, we hope to expand our impact through crowdfunding. If you would like to support us, please contact Head of Journalism Rebecca Coombes.

We retain editorial independence—the freedom of editors to make decisions without interference from any funders—for all content that is produced and published; all decisions are taken strictly within the editorial structures of the journal.

If you have a story for us, please contact [email protected].

Rebecca Coombes, Head of Journalism
Peter Doshi, Senior editor
Madlen Davies, Investigations editor
Jennifer Block, Investigations reporter
Hristio Boytchev, Freelance investigations reporter

Critics

The Association of LGBTQ+ Doctors & Dentists (GLADD), Pride in Surgery Forum, and the British Medical Association all published criticisms of the piece.

British Medical Association deputy council chair Emma Runswick said:

We have recently written to the BMJ, which is editorially independent, to challenge its article “Gender dysphoria in young people is rising—and so is professional disagreement” and express our concern, that alongside criticisms made by LGTBQ+ organisations such as GLADD and neurodivergent doctors, in our view, it lacks equality, diversity and inclusion awareness and patient voice. That the article has been used by transphobic lobby groups around the world is of particular concern to us.

2023 Twitter responses

Block was very unhappy about being called out for bias, posting a number of times on Twitter about this alleged mistreatment, suggesting any criticism is an attack on journalism as an institution.

February 27

  • Since my @bmj_latest piece on care for gender dysphoria in minors, some are curious about my background. I’ve been reporting on contested areas of medicine for 20 years. I wrote a book about the gap between evidence and routine practice in maternity care (still quite large!).
  • Politicization gets people no closer to evidence-based maternity care either, and I’d argue it hampered work toward expanding rights and reducing maternal mortality. In states that have advanced birth justice, it’s the result of red/blue folks accepting they have a common goal.
  • I see dismissing any clinician or researcher who has concerns about the best treatment for kids/adolescents in the face of inconclusive evidence as “anti-trans” as an attempt to silence important conversation and debate. I hope my piece is contributing.
  • FWIW, the organizer of the AAP rally I spoke with, who directed me to video footage, is a lifelong coastal democrat. You can’t just smear every person with concerns RE treatments, or the concerns themselves, as “anti-trans.” At least I’m not going to be baited into that tautology

March 3

  • https://twitter.com/writingblock/status/1631768413378084864
  • TLDR: Dear reporters, don’t report on transgender medicine. Don’t be curious about detransition or medical disagreement. Label the above anti-trans. Quote children of all ages rather than research. Cover “trans joy rather than the ‘difficult’ questions.”

March 5 [referring to anti-trans media figure Michael Knowles saying transgenderism must be eliminated.

  • https://twitter.com/writingblock/status/1632464903046066177
  • THIS is anti-trans–and violent and inhumane. Reporting on disagreement and unknowns in medical practice for children with gender dysphoria is not. Both the trans community and journos can condemn such rhetoric and support open exchange of info & dialogue to support Rx decisions

This is in response to an opinion piece by trans journalist Katelyn Burns.

  • [referring to https://nbcuacademy.com/trans-kids-journalism/#.ZAIfHq868m8.twitter]
  • OK, this was a snarky tweet. But it’s a serious issue. A certain corner of journalism is conflating necessary, important reporting on the issue of medical treatment for kids with transphobia. I read this piece as saying “look over here, don’t look over there.” That’s advocacy.
  • Maybe @transscribe is not familiar with my recent piece looking into the evidence base for treatments like puberty blockers and hormones in minors. She can correct me if I’m wrong, but I read her how-to as discouraging such reporting.
  • “A story about trans health care should make clear all the facts… They should include that nearly every major medical association supports the current protocol of gender-affirming care for minors.” Well, as I report, consensus does not equal evidence-based practice.
  • Reviews in Sweden, Finland, and now UK have made clear the uncertainties and potential for harm, and those countries are pulling back on medicalization and focusing instead on mental health and social support. They are not denying anyone’s existence. It’s not political there.
  • For years, these labels of “anti-trans” “transphobe” and accusations of genocide have scared journalists who are obviously not those things from pursuing reasonable questions about benefit v. harm of medical treatment. This is regressive and I hope we’re moving past it.

Author Katelyn Burns replied “but you obscured the biases of the sources your piece depended upon. that’s advocacy.”

Block said:

  • https://twitter.com/writingblock/status/1632446552668266496
  • You haven’t pointed to any such thing. Everyone is ID’d with their relationship to professional orgs. The research methodologists who evaluated the guidelines/evidence base have no history with this issue whatsoever. Just hurling the label of “anti-trans” doesn’t make it so.

2024 Free Press piece attacking Planned Parenthood

Free Press founder Bari Weiss is known for sustained attacks on trans rights. Weiss paid Block to continue these attacks by attacking Planned Parenthood.

In 2024, Block employed the same rhetoric used in anti-abortion regret propaganda in a profile of Cristina Hineman, an ex-trans activist who reports regret about making a gender transition as a consenting adult. Block then approvingly describes the legal assault on Planned Parenthood initiated by Hineman. Block then tells a similar story about “Anna,” likely the plaintiff in a similar Jane Doe lawsuit. Throughout the piece, Block denigrates trans-supportive physicians and promotes anti-trans gatekeepers like Riittakerttu Kaltiala.

2025 short film

In July 2025, Block started a Substack titled Unpopular Science. Its first post was a short propaganda piece produced with Eric S. Vaughan titled “The Liberal Case for Rethinking Gender Medicine.” Block notes:

“The genesis for this film was the investigative feature I wrote for The BMJ, which came out in February 2023. My editors committed serious resources toward producing a high-quality video component. But my print piece drew the ire of the British Medical Association, which owns the journal, and ultimately the video and follow-up reporting were killed.”

The piece features anti-trans activists Jamie Reed and Lauren Leggieri from LGB Courage Coalition, as well as Hilary Cass, Hannah Barnes, Zhenya Abbruzzese, Laura Edwards-Leeper, and Moti Gorin. It continues Block’s attacks on WPATH, Rachel Levine, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

References

Urquhart, Evan (November 8, 2023). If Gender Affirming Care Doesn’t Have Enough Evidence, Should We Prefer a Treatment With None? Assigned Media https://www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-news/if-gender-affirming-care-doesnt-have-enough-evidence-should-we-prefer-a-treatment-with-none

Runswick, Emma (June 19, 2023). Take Pride in progress. The Doctor https://www.bma.org.uk/news-and-opinion/take-pride-in-progress

Selected anti-trans writing by Block

Block, Jennifer (July 8, 2025). The most heated and divisive issue of our time — in 18 minutes. Unpopular Science https://jenniferblockauthor.substack.com/p/the-most-heated-and-divisive-issue

Block J (October 2024). Dispute arises over World Professional Association for Transgender Health’s involvement in WHO’s trans health guideline. BMJ, q2227. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.q2227

Block, Jennifer (August 7, 2024). How Did Planned Parenthood Become One of the Country’s Largest Suppliers of Testosterone? The Free Press https://www.thefp.com/p/how-did-planned-parenthood-become

Block J (May 2024). Gender medicine in the US: how the Cass review failed to land. BMJ, q1141. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.q1141

Block, Jennifer (November 7, 2023). Youth gender medicine has become a hall of mirrors. Boston Globe http://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/11/07/opinion/gender-affirming-care-trans-kids

Block J (August 2023). US paediatric leaders back gender affirming approach while also ordering evidence review. BMJ, p1877. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.p1877

Block, Jennifer (March 6, 2023). Raft of US state laws restrict access to treatments for gender dysphoria. BMJ 2023; 380 https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.p533

Block, Jennifer (February 23, 2023). Gender dysphoria in young people is rising—and so is professional disagreement. BMJ 2023; 380 https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.p382

  • “her article contains several misleading statements and, crucially, fails to include the perspective of individuals from the trans and gender diverse (TGD) community”
  • Zoe Kristensen and David B Menkes [Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Auckland, New Zealand] (06 March 2023). Professional responses to gender dysphoria: reality checks needed. https://www.bmj.com/content/380/bmj.p382/rr-3
  • “the mention of neurodivergence when speaking about transgender people is to imply that there is less capacity for making good choices about our bodies, evaluating risks and benefits.”
  • “Samira Khan,” Matthew Sellen, and Bethan Carey Jones [neurodivergent health professionals] (16 March 2023). Diversity in gender identity and neurotypes. https://www.bmj.com/content/380/bmj.p382/rr-8

Resources

Jennifer Block (jenniferblock.com)

Substack (substack.com)

X/Twitter (x.com)

YouTube (youtube.com)

Instagram (instagram.com)

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

The Free Press (thefp.com)

Eva Kurilova is a Canadian anti-transgender activist. Kurilova identifies as a TERF and has been affiliated with anti-trans extremist groups Gays Against Groomers and LGB United. 

Background

Kurilova lives in Calgary, Alberta and earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Calgary in 2013.

Anti-trans activism

In 2022, Kurilova signed an open letter supporting anti-trans extremist Amy Hamm.

Kurliva is part of the LGB separatist movement. In 2024, Kurilova told conservative Canadian publication True North:

“I’m a very gender non-conforming person, and I was that way as a child… I was a tomboy,” she said. “I really really worry and fear that if I was a child today, I would be a prime candidate for transition, for teachers and counsellors and doctors to tell me, ‘you know you can be a boy.’ That’s kind of why I have a very strong personal investment in these issues, and why I want to help protect kids.”

References

Johnson, Lisa (February 6, 2024). Alberta transgender restrictions draw more fire from Edmonton 2SLGBTQIA+ leaders. Edmonton Journal https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/alberta-transgender-restrictions-draw-more-fire-from-edmonton-2slgbtqia-leaders

Cantin-Nantel, Elie (February 2, 2024). “A step forward”: LGBT Albertans react to Danielle Smith’s new gender policies. True North https://tnc.news/2024/02/02/lgbt-albertans-react-to-smiths-policies1/

Slatz, Anna (Dec 2, 2021). Mother Claims 5-Year-Old Daughter is Trans Because She Likes ‘Trucks, Dinosaurs.’ 4W https://4w.pub/mother-claims-transgender-5-year-old/

Menzies, Peter (October 31, 2024). Peter Menzies: The Trudeau government’s latest intrusion into newsrooms is another nail in the industry’s coffin. The Hub https://thehub.ca/2024/10/31/peter-menzies-the-trudeau-governments-outrageous-new-intrusion-into-newsrooms-is-yet-another-nail-in-the-industrys-coffin/

Nobre, Andreia (April 27, 2023). Dating App HER Suspended from Twitter after Insulting Lesbians. 4W https://4w.pub/dating-app-her-suspended-from-twitter/

Yang, Wesley; “Moonlit Piglet” (Oct 03, 2023). The LGB and the T. Year Zero https://wesleyyang.substack.com/p/the-lgb-and-the-t

111 signatories (April 25, 2022). In Support of Amy Hamm. https://openletter.earth/in-support-of-amy-hamm-24239583

Selected anti-trans writing by Kulilova

Kurilova, Eva (February 16, 2023). CANADA: Mother Threatened With Arrest After Confronting Male “Watching” Girls Undress In Changing Room At Nanaimo Swimming Pool. Reduxx https://reduxx.info/canada-mother-threatened-with-arrest-after-confronting-male-watching-girls-undress-in-changing-room-at-nanaimo-swimming-pool/

Kurilova, Eva (January 21, 2025). I Hate Gender Ideology but I Don’t Hate Trans People. Reality’s Last Stand https://www.realityslaststand.com/p/i-hate-gender-ideology-but-i-dont

Kurilova, Eva (March 8, 2023). The Man Who Speaks for Canadian Women, Even on International Women’s Day. Gender Dissent https://www.genderdissent.com/post/the-man-who-speaks-for-canadian-women-even-on-international-women-s-day

Kurilova, Eva (May 14, 2023). No, the Gay Movement Did Not Spawn the Trans Movement. The Distance https://www.thedistancemag.com/p/no-the-gay-movement-did-not-spawn

Kurilova, Eva (July 25, 2022). I Would Have Been a ‘Trans Kid’—Stop Medicalizing Gender Non-Conformity. Reality’s Last Stand https://www.realityslaststand.com/p/i-would-have-been-a-trans-kidstop

Kurilova, Eva (January 24, 2024). From Abusive Husband to Trans Community Darling: A Trans Widow Speaks Out. Gender Dissent https://www.genderdissent.com/post/from-abusive-husband-to-trans-community-darling-a-trans-widow-speaks-out

Kurilova, Eva (October 11, 2023). From Gay Rights to Trans Wrongs: Egale’s Lucrative Transition. Gender Dissent https://www.genderdissent.com/post/from-gay-rights-to-trans-wrongs-egale-s-lucrative-transition

Kurilova, Eva (October 19, 2024). Opinion: UCP’s proposed policies will protect gender-diverse children. Calgary Herald https://calgaryherald.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-ucps-proposed-policies-will-protect-gender-diverse-children

Media

Benjamin Boyce (September 23, 2021). Honest to Goodness | with Eva Kurilova. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glbwLw-Y-1o

Resources

Eva Kurilova (evakurilova.com)

Substack (substack.com)

Facebook (facebook.com)

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

Twitter (twitter.com)

Natalie Wynn is an American cultural critic whose YouTube channel Contrapoints won a 2022 Peabody Award in the Immersive & Interactive category.

Background

Wynn was born on October 21, 1988 in Arlington, Virginia and grew up in nearby Vienna. Wynn’s parent William is a psychology professor at Georgetown, and parent Marian is a doctor. Wynn has two siblings who also went to Georgetown.

Wynn studied piano at Berklee College of Music, earned a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University in 2012, and a master’s degree from Northwestern University, then decided not to pursue a doctorate. Wynn did gig work before becoming a video essayist in 2008. Wynn’s work is considered part of “BreadTube,” a loose affiliation of YouTubers who posted videos to challenge right-wing views on subjects.

In 2016, Wynn began the ContraPoints channel. In 2017, Wynn came out as trans and removed all pre-transition videos. In 2020 Wynn came out as lesbian.

Video essays

Wynn is known for criticizing a number of prominent anti-trans figures, including Ray Blanchard, Jordan Peterson, Megan Phelps-Roper, and J.K.Rowling. Wynn has also lampooned segments of the trans community, presenting humorous characters who represent various political factions.

2025

  • CONSPIRACY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teqkK0RLNkI

2024

  • Twilight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqloPw5wp48

2023

2022

  • The Hunger https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTRT794IQBg

2021

  • Envy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPhrTOg1RUk
  • J.K. Rowling https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gDKbT_l2us

2020

  • Voting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3Vah8sUFgI
  • Justice https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smQsfNw_7V4
  • Cringe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRBsaJPkt2Q
  • Shame https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7WvHTl_Q7I
  • Canceling https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjMPJVmXxV8

2019

2018

  • The Apocalypse https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6GodWn4XMM
  • Pronouns https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bbINLWtMKI
  • The Aesthetic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1afqR5QkDM
  • Incels https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD2briZ6fB0
  • The West https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyaftqCORT4
  • Tiffany Tumbles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1dJ8whOM8E
  • Jordan Peterson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LqZdkkBDas

2017

References

Weiss, Max (June 2024). Who Exactly Is Natalie Wynn? Baltimore Magazine https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/section/artsentertainment/natalie-wynn-viral-baltimore-youtuber-profile/

Peabody Awards (2023). ContraPoints: Natalie Wynn (YouTube) https://peabodyawards.com/award-profile/contrapoints/

Nancy Jo, Sales (June 17, 2021). ‘The internet is about jealousy’: YouTube muse ContraPoints on cancel culture and compassion. The Guardian. [archive] https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/jun/17/contrapoints-natalie-wynn-youtube-interview

Fleishman, Jeffrey (June 12, 2019). Transgender YouTube star ContraPoints tries to change alt-right minds. Los Angeles Times. [archive] https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-st-transgender-youtuber-contrapoints-cultural-divide-20190612-story.html

McCrea, Aisling; Robinson, Nathan J. (June 9, 2019). Interview: Natalie Wynn of ContraPoints. Current Affairs. [archive] https://www.currentaffairs.org/2019/06/interview-natalie-wynn-of-contrapoints

Mark, Clifton (January 6, 2019). ContraPoints Is Political Philosophy Made for YouTube. The Atlantic. [archive] https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2019/01/contrapoints-political-philosophy-natalie-wynn-youtube/579532/

N.B. (December 20, 2018). The transgender populist fighting fascists with face glitter. The Economist. [archive] https://www.economist.com/open-future/2018/12/21/the-transgender-populist-fighting-fascists-with-face-glitter

Marantz, Andrew (November 19, 2018). The Stylish Socialist Who Is Trying to Save YouTube from Alt-Right Domination. The New Yorker. [archive] https://www.newyorker.com/culture/persons-of-interest/the-stylish-socialist-who-is-trying-to-save-youtube-from-alt-right-domination

Cross, Katherine (August 24, 2018). The Oscar Wilde of YouTube fights the alt-right with decadence and seduction. The Verge. [archive] https://www.theverge.com/tech/2018/8/24/17689090/contrapoints-youtube-natalie-wynn

Robinson, Nathan J. (May 6, 2018). God Bless ContraPoints. Current Affairs. [archive] https://www.currentaffairs.org/2018/05/god-bless-contrapoints

Resources

Contrapoints (contrapoints.com)

YouTube (youtube.com)

Patreon (patreon.com)

Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)

X/Twitter (x.com)

Facebook (facebook.com)

Bluesky (bsky.app)

Bari Weiss is an American opinion writer and a key historical figure in promoting and platforming anti-transgender extremism. Weiss is founder of anti-trans group blog The Free Press.

While at the New York Times, Weiss popularized the intellectual dark web, described as a gateway to the far right.

Weiss has platformed, appeared with, promoted, and logrolled for other anti-transgender extremists and activists, including J.K. Rowling, Alice Dreger, Jesse Singal, Katie Herzog, Abigail Shrier, Sue Evans, Suzy Weiss, Julie Bindel, Hannah Barnes, Carole Hooven, Leighton Woodhouse, Michael Shellenberger, J. Michael Bailey, Aaron Sibarium, Maud Maron, Jamie Reed, Andrew Sullivan, Lisa Selin Davis, and Helen Lewis.

Background

Bari M. Weiss was born March 25, 1984 to Lou and Amy Weiss, owners of Weisslines, a flooring retailer. Weiss grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and graduated from Columbia University in 2007.

Weiss served as a senior editor at Tablet, then worked at the Wall Street Journal from 2013 to 2017. From 2017 until resigning in 2020, Weiss was a staff writer and editor for the opinion section of the New York Times.

Weiss was married to Jason Kass from 2013 to 2016 and married Nellie Bowles in 2021.

Weiss has been active in pro-Israel causes, lived in Israel for a time, and authored the 2019 book How to Fight Anti-Semitism.

Anti-transgender efforts

Weiss was a key figure in securing funding for anti-trans group Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism.

Weiss is the founder and editor of The Free Press (formerly Common Sense) and the host of the podcast Honestly.

Podcast

Weiss began a podcast in 2021 titled Honestly with Bari Weiss and frequently has guests on to discuss their gender critical views, including:

References

Urquhart, Evan (December 9, 2022). The Anti-Trans Hate Account That Bari Weiss Says Is Yet Another Right-Wing Voice Censored by Twitter. Slate https://slate.com/technology/2022/12/twitter-files-bari-weiss-libsoftik-elon-musk.html

Weiss cites the platform’s treatment of Libs of TikTok, a Twitter account that remains active despite its connection to multiple acts of terror and intimidation from far-right extremists, including multiple bomb threats against a children’s hospital. This portrayal of Libs of TikTok as representative of accounts posting conservative views is alarming. […]

Weiss may be best known for a column introducing “the intellectual dark web,” a group of anti-progressive types fixated on the concept of cancel culture and the idea that liberals routinely censor conservative ideas. With the Twitter Files, she describes herself leading a team that has been given “broad and expanding access” to Twitter’s internal documents and communications. This group includes opinion writer Abigail Shrier, who is best known for writing Irreversible Damage, a book opposing transition for female-assigned people on the grounds that an unproven social contagion is the root cause of transmasculine identities.

It is unsurprising that this team highlighted the treatment of an account notorious for its anti-trans activity. But Libs of TikTok goes far beyond expressing political opinions about transgender issues. That would certainly be allowed under Twitter’s policies, which exist to curb harassment, violence, and hate speech, not opinions. In fact, Libs of TikTok has repeatedly highlighted specific individuals, events, and institutions with inflammatory language, often falsely suggesting they are guilty of heinous acts against young children. The account’s spotlight has repeatedly resulted in harassment and violent threats toward the individuals involved, in a process typically referred to as stochastic terrorism. Those targeted include doctors and hospitals that provide gender-affirming care for youth, teachers and schools with inclusive policies, and all-ages or youth-focused drag events.

Contrary to the extremist rhetoric, gender-affirming care is supported by all mainstream medical organizations as potentially lifesaving for young people with gender dysphoria. It is also perfectly possible to speak with children about the existence of transgender people and about families headed by same-sex parents in an age-appropriate, nonsexual way.

Weiss, Bari (September 12, 2017). Opinion: A Political Conservative Goes to Berkeley. New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/12/opinion/conservative-berkeley-ben-shapiro.html

There’s no question that Ben Shapiro loves to provoke college students. He once brought a diaper to a campus speech to offer to “self-indulgent pathetic children who can’t handle anyone with an opposing point of view.” In another, while entertaining a question from a young woman who called for greater sensitivity toward transgender people, he shot back: “If I call you a moose are you suddenly a moose?”

Yet this sharp-tongued Never Trumper was also, according to the Anti-Defamation League, by far the most bullied Jewish journalist of 2016

Weiss, Bari (August 1, 2017). When Progressives Embrace Hate. New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/01/opinion/womens-march-progressives-hate.html

We just saw what happens to legitimate political parties when they fall prey to movements that are, at base, anti-American. That is true of the populist, racist alt-right that helped deliver Mr. Trump the White House and are now hollowing out the Republican Party. And it can be true of the progressive “resistance” — regardless of how chic, Instagrammable and celebrity-laden the movement may seem. 

Media

Inaya Folarin Iman with Bari Weiss, Helen Lewis, Katie Herzog, and Mick Hume (May 22, 2021). Can truth survive the new journalism? Feat. Bari Weiss, Helen Lewis, Katie Herzog & Mick Hume Free Speech Champions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2wz6SuQSuY

Resources

Bari Weiss (bariweiss.com)

Substack (substack.com)

Honestly (honestlypod.com)

Note: In 2025, this site phased out AI illustrations after artist feedback. The previous illustration is here.

Andrew Sullivan is a conservative gay cultural critic and anti-transgender extremist. The Advocate noted that Sullivan “represents everything wrong with the gay rights movement.”

Sullivan is an LGB separatist who subscribes to the “gay erasure” conspiracy theory that healthcare for trans and gender diverse youth is a plan to eliminate gay, lesbian, and bisexial people.

Sullivan says Catholic upbringing and values inform this conservatism. Sullivan’s gender critical views include:

  • Criticizing legal protections based on gender identity
  • Criticizing affirmative care for gender diverse youth
  • Promoting the ex-transgender movement
  • Stating that trans youth should wait until 16 for health services
  • Citing anti-trans research like Lisa Littman’s “rapid onset gender dysphoria“

Sullivan believes that “Stonewall was the downfall of the gay movement” and that “the gay movement was hijacked in the seventies” by activists.

Background

In 1986, Sullivan took a role at The New Republic, rising to editor in 1991 before leaving in 1996.

Sullivan wrote for The New York Times Magazine from 1998 until getting fired in 2002. During that time Sullivan started a blog called The Dish that ran until 2015. From 2016 to 2020 Sullivan wrote for New York magazine, then moved to Substack.

Anti-trans activism

Sullivan frequently appears in the media to attack trans people, especially gender diverse children.

Sullivan has collaborated with anti-trans activists, including Katie Herzog, Megyn Kelly, Bill Maher, Konstantin Kisin, and Francis Foster.

Podcast

In October 2020, Sullivan began the Dishcast, which has hosted many anti-trans activists, including David Frum, Michelle Goldberg, Rod Dreher, Eric Kaufmann, Lionel Shriver, Nellie Bowles, Bill Maher, Richard Dawkins, Abigail Shrier, Carole Hooven, Pamela Paul, Leor Sapir, Vivek Ramaswamy, Hannah Barnes, Nicholas Wade, Ben Appel, Matt Taibbi, Glen Loury, Louise Perry, David French, Douglas Murray, Bari Weiss, Jonathan Haidt, Kathleen Stock, Christopher Rufo, Michael Shellenberger, Ann Coulter, Steven Pinker, Ross Douthat, Wesley Yang, Katie Herzog, Charles Murray, Niall Ferguson, Julie Bindel, Emily Yoffe, Sally Satel, Glenn Greenwald, Kmele Foster, Caitlin Flanagan, Meghan Daum, Matt Yglesias, and Coleman Hughes.

Sullivan has also hosted conservative trans activist Buck Angel, ex-trans activist Helena Kerschner, and centrist trans activists Mara Keisling and Dana Beyer.

References

Reis, Elizabeth (July 16, 2025). Our Bodies, Our Decisions: A Response to Andrew Sullivan’s NYT Essay. Nursing Clio https://nursingclio.org/2025/07/16/our-bodies-our-decisions-a-response-to-andrew-sullivans-nyt-essay/

Urquhart, Evan (June 26, 2025). NYT Publishes Andrew Sullivan’s Incoherent Mishmash of Anti-Trans Politics. Assigned Media https://www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-news/new-york-times-andrew-sullivan-incoherant-anti-trans-politics

Coyne, Jerry (June 26, 2025). An important article by Andrew Sullivan. Why Evolution Is True https://whyevolutionistrue.com/2025/06/26/an-important-article-by-andrew-sullivan/

Hays, Gabriel (June 26, 2025). Gay journalist says LGBTQ movement has gone from civil rights success to ‘madness.’ Fox News https://nypost.com/2025/06/26/us-news/gay-journalist-says-lgbtq-movement-has-gone-from-civil-rights-success-to-madness/

Brantley Will [ed.] (2024). Conversations with Sarah Schulman. University Press of Mississippi, ISBN 978-1-4968-4836-9 https://doi.org/10.2307/jj.10782311.10

Schindler, Paul (February 1, 2018). The Trouble With Andrew Sullivan. Gay City News https://gaycitynews.com/the-trouble-with-andrew-sullivan/

Marr, Rhuaridh (December 30, 2020). Gay conservative Andrew Sullivan complains about lesbians ‘becoming men’ in anti-trans column. Sullivan’s complaints about lesbian women not tending to him while sick led to confusion on Twitter. Metro Weekly https://www.metroweekly.com/2020/12/gay-conservative-andrew-sullivan-complains-about-lesbians-becoming-men-in-anti-trans-column/

Finke, Leigh (April 28, 2021). From Andrew Sullivan to Terry Schilling: Framing Transition as Evil. The Advocate https://www.advocate.com/commentary/2021/4/28/andrew-sullivan-terry-schilling-framing-transition-evil

Belonsky, Andrew (October 12, 2007). Andrew Sullivan Supports Barney Frank. Queerty http://www.queerty.com/andrew-sullivan-supports-barney-frank-20071012/

Selected anti-trans writing by Sullivan

Sullivan, Andrew (June 26, 2025). How the Gay Rights Movement Radicalized, and Lost Its Way. New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/26/opinion/gay-lesbian-trans-rights.html alt headline: Gay People Won. So Why Does It Feel As if We’re Losing?

Sullivan, Andrew (October 18, 2024). Rachel Levine Must Resign. Substack https://andrewsullivan.substack.com/p/rachel-levine-must-resign

Sullivan, Andrew (April 12, 2024). Will Big Trans Be Held To Account? The Cass Report has definitively destroyed their case for child sex-changes. Substack https://andrewsullivan.substack.com/p/will-big-trans-be-held-to-account-3ad

Sullivan, Andrew (March 15, 2024). The Transqueers Take The Mask Off: Judith Butler and Andrea Long Chu explain their gender revolution. It’s wild! Substack https://andrewsullivan.substack.com/p/the-transqueers-take-the-mask-off-f7c

Sullivan, Andrew (February 2, 2024). The Meaningless Incoherence Of “LGBTQ+.” Substack https://andrewsullivan.substack.com/p/the-meaningless-incoherence-of-lgbtq-d47

Sullivan, Andrew (June 23, 2023). Gay Rights And The Limits Of Liberalism. https://andrewsullivan.substack.com/p/gay-rights-and-the-limits-of-liberalism-be4

Sullivan, Andrew (May 19, 2023). The Queers Versus The Homosexuals. Substack https://andrewsullivan.substack.com/p/the-queers-versus-the-homosexuals-cfd

Sullivan, Andrew (March 24, 2023). Culture War Politics And The English Language. https://andrewsullivan.substack.com/p/culture-war-politics-and-the-english-706

Sullivan, Andrew (April 8, 2022). Who Is Looking Out For Gay Kids? Substack https://andrewsullivan.substack.com/p/who-is-looking-out-for-gay-kids-a19

Sullivan, Andrew (February 18, 2022). The Backlash Against Trans Extremism. Substack https://andrewsullivan.substack.com/p/the-backlash-against-trans-extremism

Sullivan, Andrew (February 18, 2022). The Trans Movement Is Not About Rights Anymore. Substack https://andrewsullivan.substack.com/p/the-trans-movement-is-not-about-rights-67e

Sullivan, Andrew (October 8, 2021). Dave Chappelle Is Right, Isn’t He? The comedian defends reality. Which is currently under siege. Substack https://andrewsullivan.substack.com/p/dave-chappelle-is-right-isnt-he-b23

Sullivan, Andrew (April 9, 2021). A Truce Proposal in the Trans Wars. Substack https://andrewsullivan.substack.com/p/a-truce-proposal-in-the-trans-wars-c49

Sullivan, Andrew (November 1, 2019). The Hard Questions About Young People and Gender Transitions. Intelligencer http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/11/andrew-sullivan-hard-questions-gender-transitions-for-young.html

Sullivan, Andrew (September 20, 2019). When the Ideologues Come for the Kids. Intelligencer https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/09/andrew-sullivan-when-the-ideologues-come-for-the-kids.html

Sullivan, Andrew (February 1, 2019). The Nature of Sex. Intelligencer https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/02/andrew-sullivan-the-nature-of-sex.html

Sullivan, Andrew (June 2, 2014). Engaging The T. The Dish https://dish.andrewsullivan.com/threads/engaging-the-t/

Media

The Dishcast with Andrew Sullivan and Brianna Wu (December 27, 2024). Brianna Wu On Trans Life. https://andrewsullivan.substack.com/p/brianna-wu-on-trans-life

Club Random with Bill Maher (March 2, 2023). Why Being Gay is now considered Bigoted w/ Andrew Sullivan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-Gf3RRGDM0

Megyn Kelly (October 10, 2022). The Lies of “Gender Affirming Care” Grow More Extreme, with Andrew Sullivan. The Megyn Kelly Show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c87CuvD5j24

TRIGGERnometry with Konstantin Kisin and Francis Foster (June 29, 2022) Andrew Sullivan: “Leave Kids the F*ck Alone!” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8f_f-lhuUw

Real Time with Bill Maher (June 24, 2022). Overtime: Andrew Sullivan, Katie Herzog, Christine Emba | Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7QITC__mV4

Andrew Sullivan (February 26, 2021). Mara Keisling On The Trans Debate. https://andrewsullivan.substack.com/p/mara-keisling-on-the-trans-debate

Resources

Andrew Sullivan (andrewsullivan.com)

X/Twitter (x.com)

Substack (substack.com)

Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)

Note: In 2025, this site phased out AI illustrations after artist feedback. The previous illustration is here.

Janice Turner is a British writer and anti-transgender extremist. Turner is a key historical figure in the oppression of trans and gender diverse people.

Background

Turner was born April 8, 1964 in Wakefield and attended University of Sussex. Turner edited several publications before freelancing as a columnist focusing on media criticism.

Anti-transgender activism

Turner joined The Times and began writing dozens anti-trans articles. Turner has supported other anti-trans extremists, including JK Rowling, Abigail Shrier, Jesse Singal, and Kathleen Stock.

References

07454-18 Belcher v The Times. Independent Press Standards Organisation https://www.ipso.co.uk/rulings-and-resolution-statements/ruling/?id=07454-18

Staff report (April 26, 2019). Activist loses IPSO complaint against Janice Turner column in Times about trans suicides. Press Gazette https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/activist-loses-ipso-complaint-against-janice-turner-times-column-about-trans-suicides/

Selected anti-trans writing by Turner

Turner, Janice (July 7, 2023). Lesbian tribunal win is good news for us all: Victory over trans charity Mermaids strikes a blow for pluralism and against the creeping tyranny of the gender lobby. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/lesbian-tribunal-win-is-good-news-for-us-all-9x8kn9ngk

Turner, Janice (May 31, 2023). We hid in a broom cupboard: my mad day at Oxford with Kathleen Stock. It took police and three security guards to get her there — but this week the gender-critical academic spoke at the Oxford Union. Janice Turner went with her. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/oxford-union-kathleen-stock-trans-gender-debate-2023-zk85xm50l

Turner, Janice (April 7, 2023). Let’s settle this toxic matter once and for all: Crucial restatement of the facts of biological sex is a challenge that Keir Starmer and Labour can’t afford to duck. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/lets-settle-this-toxic-matter-once-and-for-all-k7vx5cshm

Turner, Janice (February 24, 2023). Trans U-turn is belated victory for free speech: After years of all but ignoring an epidemic of gender dysphoria, The New York Times will allow journalists to report it. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/trans-u-turn-is-belated-victory-for-free-speech-bk3jb32xg

Turner, Janice (February 14, 2023). Time to Think by Hannah Barnes review — exposing the collapse of Tavistock’s gender clinic. This dogged, brave investigation shows what happens when self-righteous ideologues capture a field of medicine. Review by Janice Turner The Times. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/time-to-think-by-hannah-barnes-review-the-inside-story-of-the-collapse-of-the-tavistock-s-gender-clinic-z7wwj9rtw

Turner, Janice (February 10 2023). Schools fuel trans angst by sidelining parents. Teachers are happy to keep a child’s name-change secret — Gillian Keegan must end this cruel betrayal of families. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/schools-fuel-trans-angst-by-sidelining-parents-60fq85x95

Turner, Janice (January 27 2023). There’s a better way to treat trans prisoners. Feminists have long warned of the dangers of male-bodied rapists in women’s jails and Scotland proves them right. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/theres-a-better-way-to-treat-trans-prisoners-cz939bmbk

Turner, Janice (January 20, 2023). ‘It might never happen, love’ is no basis for law. Debate over SNP’s gender self-ID bill has opened the floodgates to furious men who cannot bear to hear our opinion. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/it-might-never-happen-love-is-no-basis-for-law-kqc68cm8d

Turner, Janice (December 12, 2022,). JK Rowling launches sex abuse centre for women only. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/jk-rowling-new-service-women-sexual-violence-8k570kdt2

Turner, Janice (December 2, 2022). Women who can’t define a woman are sunk. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/women-who-cant-define-a-woman-are-sunk-chq8qc68n

Turner, Janice (December 14, 2022). Someone who never loses out? That’s a man. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/someone-who-never-loses-out-thats-a-man-k9djv572x

Turner, Janice (November 18, 2022). Nicola Sturgeon’s gender law is another blow to women. The Scottish government’s fast-track route to self-ID fails to protect the vulnerable and is out of tune with the times. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/nicola-sturgeons-gender-law-is-another-blow-to-women-5hvglzvhb

Turner, Janice (October 28 2022). There’s more to womanhood than high heels: The idea that Eddie Izzard can flick between ‘boy mode’ and ‘girl mode’ whenever he feels like it is a self-serving travesty. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/theres-more-to-womanhood-than-high-heels-nqft78d5q

Turner, Janice (July 29, 2022). Gender clinics face scrutiny of science at last. Hilary Cass’s report vindicates the many whistleblowers who for years had raised concerns about the Tavistock Centre. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/gender-clinics-face-scrutiny-of-science-at-last-q900wkrth

Turner, Janice (June 28, 2022). What went wrong at the Tavistock clinic for trans teenagers? Since 2010, the number of teenage girls referred to the Tavistock Gender Identity Development Service has increased by 5,000 per cent. Now former patients and staff members are speaking out. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/what-went-wrong-at-the-tavistock-clinic-for-trans-teenagers-v5cfcw77n

Turner, Janice (June 3, 2022). Civil servants are being fed gender drivel. What passes as ‘training’ on trans issues turns out to be anti-scientific nonsense with little regard for existing laws. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/civil-servants-are-being-fed-gender-drivel-kkxv6zhc2

Turner, Janice (February 11, 2022). Keir Starmer can’t keep hiding in the gender wars. Feminist Labour members who face a Maoist inquisition over their ‘lack of remorse’ finally have an ally in Tony Blair. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/keir-starmer-cant-keep-hiding-in-the-gender-wars-ffzk2qdh6

Turner, Janice (January 28, 2022). At last, there’s a champion for women’s rights. Self-ID campaigners have grown used to getting their way but the equality commission has now drawn a line in the sand. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/at-last-theres-a-champion-for-womens-rights-mlt5s95pk

Turner, Janice (December 24, 2021). Let’s celebrate the bravery of JK Rowling. The billionaire author could easily have stayed silent in the argument over sex and gender but, like a handful of other courageous women, she refuses to deny material reality. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/lets-celebrate-the-bravery-of-jk-rowling-xf2f392t7

Turner, Janice (November 19, 2021). Professor Kathleen Stock and the toxic gender debate. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/professor-kathleen-stock-and-the-toxic-gender-debate-8lbp9jwl9

Turner, Janice (July 31, 2021). Be more Samoan to avoid Olympic injustice. We can learn about fairness from the islanders who have lost out since trans women were allowed to compete against females. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/be-more-samoan-to-avoid-olympic-injustice-s22rkn0rw

Turner, Janice (January 23, 2021). War of words risks wiping women from our language. he US has joined a growing list of countries seeking to eradicate the language of biological sex in order to appease the influential trans lobby, says Janice Turner. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/war-of-words-risks-wiping-women-from-our-language-djhp2mwjg T

Turner, Janice (December 30, 2020). Irreversible Damage by Abigail Shrier review — resisting the ‘transgender craze.’ This fearless book shows how girls’ bodies have become collateral damage in adult culture wars, says Janice Turner. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/irreversible-damage-by-abigail-shrier-review-resisting-the-transgender-craze-8mzrt3gk9

Turner, Janice (February 21, 2020).  Giving puberty blocker to ‘trans’ children is a leap into the unknown. A landmark legal review will examine claims that confused young people are being subjected to a giant medical experiment, says Janice Turner. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/giving-puberty-blocker-to-trans-children-is-a-leap-into-the-unknown-x3g37sb7f

Turner, Janice (September 21, 2019). Cult of gender identity is harming children. The idea that biological sex can be ignored is now so pervasive that the BBC is peddling it to primary school pupils. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/cult-of-gender-identity-is-harming-children-pjvbkjzxq

Turner, Janice (October 20, 2018). Suicides should never be a political weapon. The Times. https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/activist-loses-ipso-complaint-against-janice-turner-times-column-about-trans-suicides/

Turner, Janice (September 8, 2018). Trans rapists are a danger in women’s jails. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/trans-rapists-are-a-danger-in-women-s-jails-5vhgh57pt

Turner, Janice (June 30, 2018). This gender battle is harder to solve than Brexit. Long-promised consultation on trans rights will show how fierce the arguments are and how vulnerable both sides feel. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/this-gender-battle-is-harder-to-solve-than-brexit-0jc0pn867

Turner, Janice (November 11, 2017). Children sacrificed to appease trans lobby. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/children-sacrificed-to-appease-trans-lobby-bq0m2mm95

Turner, Janice (November 11 2017). Meet Alex Bertie, the transgender poster boy. More girls are changing their gender from female to male than ever before. And it’s YouTube star Alex Bertie’s example that they’re following. What’s behind the surge in numbers? Janice Turner investigates. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/meet-alex-bertie-the-transgender-poster-boy-z88hgh8b8

Turner, Janice (September 16, 2017). The battle over gender has turned bloody: Women who believe that their rights are threatened by transgender activists now find themselves at risk of assault. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-battle-over-gender-has-turned-bloody-2wpkmnqhh

Turner, Janice (July 29, 2017). How do you solve a problem like men in women’s changing rooms, Maria? The Tory champions plans to make gender switching a matter of ‘self-definition.’ The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-men-in-women-s-changing-rooms-maria-v3hhxmk3p

Turner, Janice (May 14, 2016). The trans lobby peddles a pink and blue world. Being a girl who likes trucks or a boy who wears nail polish doesn’t make you gender fluid, it just makes you human. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-trans-lobby-peddles-a-pink-and-blue-world-j3kqmv8lk

Stephen Beck is an American healthcare executive and anti-transgender activist. Beck is a member of anti-trans hate group Society for Evidence-based Gender Medicine (SEGM). Beck and spouse Sharon are unaccepting parents of a trans nonbinary child.

Background

Stephen Richard “Steve” Beck was born May 22, 1967. Beck earned a medical degree from University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in 1992. Beck practices internal medicine in Ohio.

Beck is married to Sharon “Shari” Beck aka “Maria Polaris,” “Maria Borealis,” “Maria Veradis” and a host of other pseudonyms, an anti-trans extremist affiliated with Cardinal Support Network and Parents of ROGD Kids.

Anti-transgender activism

Beck coathored a 2021 letter with SEGM members William J. Malone, Paul W. Hruz, and Julia W. Mason critical of clnical guidelines published by endocrinology groups.

References

Jones, Zinnia (January 31, 2024). “Still dreaming of running over the trans activists”: Sharon Beck, leader of anti-trans parent group Cardinal Support Network and wife of SEGM’s cofounder, “guided” Ohio Rep. Gary Click on his trans care ban. Gender Analysis https://genderanalysis.net/2024/01/still-dreaming-of-running-over-the-trans-activists-sharon-beck-leader-of-anti-trans-parent-group-cardinal-support-network-and-wife-of-segms-cofounder-guided/

SPLC (December 12, 2023). Group dynamics and division of labor within the anti-LGBTQ+ pseudoscience network. https://www.splcenter.org/resources/reports/defining-pseudoscience-network/

Jones, Zinnia (January 11, 2023). Anti-trans group SEGM’s cofounder Stephen Beck is an executive at Bon Secours Mercy Health, the fifth-largest Catholic healthcare network in the US. Gender Analysis https://genderanalysis.net/2023/01/anti-trans-group-segms-cofounder-stephen-beck-is-an-executive-at-bon-secours-mercy-health-the-fifth-largest-catholic-healthcare-network-in-the-us/

Selected writing by Beck

Abby Walch, Caroline Davidge-Pitts, Joshua D Safer, Ximena Lopez, Vin Tangpricha, Sean J Iwamoto (2021). Proper Care of Transgender and Gender Diverse Persons in the Setting of Proposed Discrimination: A Policy Perspective. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2021 Jan 23;106(2):305-308. https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgaa816.

  • William J. Malone, Paul W. Hruz, Julia W. Mason, and Stephen Beck (2021). Letter to the Editor from William J. Malone et al: “Proper Care of Transgender and Gender-diverse Persons in the Setting of Proposed Discrimination: A Policy Perspective” The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Volume 106, Issue 8, August 2021, Pages e3287–e3288, https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgab205
  • Abby Walch, Caroline Davidge-Pitts, Ximena Lopez, Vin Tangpricha, Sean J Iwamoto, Joshua D Safer (2021). Response to Letter to the Editor from Malone: “Proper Care of Transgender and Gender Diverse Persons in the Setting of Proposed Discrimination: A Policy Perspective.” The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Volume 106, Issue 8, August 2021, Pages e3295–e3296, https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgab206

Resources

GoFundMe (gofundme.com)

World Professional Association for Transgender Health (wpath.org)

X/Twitter (x.com)

Hannah Barnes is a British author and anti-transgender activist. Barnes is a key historical figure in the oppression of trans and gender diverse youth.

Barnes was an invited speaker at a 2023 conference organized by SPLC-designated anti-trans hate group Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine. Barnes frequently writes anti-trans pieces for The New Statesman.

Background

Barnes earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Oxford in 2005 and a degree from City University of London in 2006.

After roles at DeHavilland and GCap Media, Barnes joined the BBC in 2014. Barnes is a significant contributor to anti-trans publication The New Statesman.

Anti-trans activism

Barnes is a key figure in FUD propaganda around healthcare for gender diverse youth, with a special focus on medications for unwanted puberty.

Time to Think

Barnes authored the 2023 book Time to Think: The Inside Story of the Collapse of the Tavistock’s Gender Service for Children. The Tavistock was typical of bureaucratic centralized federally funded clinics that have emerged under nationalized healthcare systems. These clinics often deliver substandard care due to unacceptable wait times. Countries like Canada and the UK have closed these kinds of clinics in favor of decentralized options.

The acknowledgements list many key figures in global anti-trans activism:

This book would never have been written without the endless support of my husband, Pat, who has kept our family on track while allowing me to research, conduct interviews, write and rewrite. Enormous thanks are also due to my parents and step-parents for their love, and for their help with looking after their amazing grandchildren. To all those who shared their experience of GIDS as service users or as their family members, thank you for telling your stories. Ellie, Jack, Phoebe, Hannah, ‘Jacob’, ‘Michelle’, ‘Diana’, ‘Harriet’ – thank you for trusting with me with such personal accounts, and, in some cases, highly sensitive information.

I owe a huge debt of gratitude to all of the GIDS clinicians who have given me their time, shared their thoughts – whatever they may be – and who met or spoke with me, even if they did not feel comfortable being interviewed. To Anna Hutchinson, who patiently shared her experiences over many hours, to Matt Bristow, Will Crouch, Kirsty Entwistle, Sue Evans, Az Hakeem, Melissa Midgen, Natasha Prescott, Anastassis Spiliadis, and to the many, many others who have spoken on condition of anonymity – thank you. For some, I am aware it has been a difficult experience, and I do not take lightly how daunting it might have been to share your views – for a variety of reasons. There are also further, unnamed clinicians who have spoken out over several years, and who have tried to bring about change away from the public eye. Thanks too to all who have spoken with me who work or worked in the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, or were charged with its governance: Sonia Appleby, Juliet Singer, David Bell, Marcus Evans, Stanley Ruszczynski, David Taylor, Marilyn Miller and those who do not wish to be named. Paul Moran, Donal O’Shea, Russell Viner, David Freedman and Stephanie Davies-Arai also deserve my thanks, as do Lucy Bannerman, Susan Matthews and Richard Stephens.

My first, and exceptionally brilliant, reader was my uncle, Robert Barnes, and I thank him for his many thoughtful, wise suggestions and feedback. My second was Julia Murphy, who managed to squeeze in reading alongside work and family life. Thank you. This book would also not have been written without the encouragement of Innes Bowen, who convinced me that I had it in me. Nor would it have been possible without my agent Toby Mundy, who took it – and me – on, and who has been a consistent voice of calm when I have needed it. And to Mark Richards and Diana Broccardo at Swift Press, who were brave enough to publish it. For bringing coherence to the many, many references, thank you to the ever-patient Alex Middleton. The seeds were sown at BBC Newsnight, and there would have been no book without the original backing and courage of my former editor, Esmé Wren, and my friend and former colleague Deborah Cohen, as well as support from deputy editors Dan Clarke, Verity Murphy and Stewart Maclean. Finally, thank you to everyone who has sent me source material or shared information, and to those whose names I don’t know who have had the wisdom to archive hundreds of webpages. I am indebted to you all.

Selected anti-trans writing by Barnes

Barnes, Hannah (14 June 2025). Do our politicians understand the Supreme Court’s gender ruling? New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/the-weekend-report/2025/06/do-our-politicians-understand-the-supreme-courts-gender-ruling

Barnes, Hannah (27 May 2025). Exclusive: Why Wes Streeting changed his mind on cross-sex hormones. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/health/2025/05/exclusive-why-wes-streeting-changed-his-mind-on-cross-sex-hormones

Barnes, Hannah (23 April 2025). Labour’s cynical shift on biological sex. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/comment/2025/04/labours-cynical-shift-on-biological-sex

Barnes, Hannah (26 March 2025). How gender ideology corrupted government data. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/health/2025/03/how-gender-ideology-corrupted-government-data

Barnes, Hannah (27 February 2025). The new puberty blockers trial is expensive and adds little. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2025/02/the-new-puberty-blockers-trial-is-expensive-and-adds-little

Barnes, Hannah (12 February 2025). Katharine Birbalsingh: “They’re going to destroy our schools.” New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/education/2025/02/katharine-birbalsingh-interview-destroy-our-schools-bridget-phillipson-academies

Barnes, Hannah (23 January 2025). Are politicians trying to undermine the Cass Review? New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2025/01/are-politicians-trying-to-undermine-the-cass-review

Barnes, Hannah (20 December 2024). Why courts could stop a teenager changing their gender. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2024/12/why-courts-could-stop-a-teenager-changing-their-gender

Barnes, Hannah (29 November 2024). The Scottish government is ignoring women’s rights. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/comment/2024/11/scottish-government-is-ignoring-womens-rights

Barnes, Hannah (3 December 2024).Why courts could stop a teenager changing their gender. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/health/2024/12/why-courts-could-stop-a-teenager-changing-their-gender

Barnes, Hannah (November 2024).The Scottish government is ignoring women’s rights. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/comment/2024/11/scottish-government-is-ignoring-womens-rights

Barnes, Hannah (21 October 2024). Questions remain over NHS youth gender care, despite Cass Review. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/thestaggers/2024/09/the-bma-turns-away-from-rejecting-the-cass-report

Barnes, Hannah(27 September 2024). The BMA turns away from rejecting the Cass Report. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2024/09/the-bma-turns-away-from-rejecting-the-cass-report

Barnes, Hannah (25 September 2024). The intolerant age. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2024/09/intolerant-age-free-speech-britain-institutions

Barnes, Hannah (18 September 2024). Data and ideology don’t mix. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/comment/2024/09/data-and-ideology-dont-mix

Banres, Hannah (25 September 2024). Has Labour shifted on sex-based rights? New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2024/09/has-labour-shifted-on-sex-based-rights

Barnes, Hannah (8 August 2024). Hundreds of doctors are challenging the BMA’s stance on puberty blockers. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2024/08/hundreds-of-doctors-are-challenging-the-bmas-stance-on-puberty-blockers

Barnes, Hannah (26 July 2024). Why are BMA Council’s confidential discussions on the Cass Review a matter of public interest? New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/comment/2024/07/why-are-bma-councils-confidential-discussions-on-the-cass-review-a-matter-of-public-interest

Barnes, Hannah (16 July 2024). Why are British doctors considering rejecting the Cass report? New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/health/2024/07/why-are-british-doctors-voting-to-reject-the-cass-report

Barnes, Hannah (26 June 2024). The vexed history of British feminism. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/2024/06/the-vexed-history-of-british-feminism

Barnes, Hannah (25 June 2024). Labour’s women problem. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/labour/2024/06/labour-starmer-women-problem-jk-rowling-gender

Barnes, Hannah (12 June 2024).Politicians ignore the Mumsnet manifesto at their peril. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2024/06/politicians-ignore-the-mumsnet-manifesto-at-their-peril

Barnes, Hannah (5 June 2024). Why won’t Labour tell the truth about the NHS? New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2024/06/why-wont-labour-tell-truth-about-nhs-debates

Barnes, Hannah (5 June 2024). Kemi Badenoch and the legal definition of sex. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2024/06/kemi-badenoch-and-the-legal-definition-of-sex

Barnes, Hannah (30 May 2024). The government’s 11th-hour ban on puberty blockers. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/health/2024/05/government-11th-hour-ban-puberty-blockers-gender

Barnes, Hannah (8 May 2024). Hilary Cass: “Do I regret doing it? Absolutely not.” New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/ns-interview/2024/05/hilary-cass-interview-review-transgender-identity-tavistock-puberty-blockers-do-i-regret-it

Staff (April 11, 2024). How will the gender care report affect politics? New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/podcasts/2024/04/how-will-the-gender-care-report-affect-politics

Barnes, Hannah (10 April 2024). The Cass Review into children’s gender care should shame us all. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/health/2024/04/the-cass-review-into-childrens-gender-care-should-shame-us-all

Barnes, Hannah (20 March 2024). Inside the collapse of the Tavistock Centre. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2024/03/inside-the-collapse-of-the-tavistock-centre

Barnes, Hannah (24 February 2024). Reem Alsalem on the biggest obstacles to ending violence against women. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/the-weekend-interview/2024/02/reem-alsalem-biggest-obstacles-ending-violence-against-women

Barnes, Hannah (8 February 2024). Kemi Badenoch sticks to the facts. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2024/02/kemi-badenoch-facts-select-committee

Barnes, Hannah (24 March 2024). New legal challenge aims to restrict private gender clinics for teenagers. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2024/03/legal-challenge-stop-private-gender-clinics-teenagers-tavistock

Barnes, Hannah (12 March 2024). No more puberty blockers for children, says NHS England. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2024/03/no-more-puberty-blockers-for-children-says-nhs-england

Barnes, Hannah (16 January 2024). Inside NHS England’s faltering plan to replace the Tavistock. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2024/01/inside-nhs-englands-faltering-plan-to-replace-tavistock

Resources

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LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

Charlotte Allen is an American author and anti-transgender activist. A conservative Catholic, Allen has written articles critical of the transgender rights movement, including a puff piece on transphobic psychologist J. Michael Bailey for The Weekly Standard. Joseph Epstein from that publication had previously characterized Bailey as a “pimp” who arranges voyeuristic sex tours and demonstrations for people like Allen. Bailey earned Epstein’s opprobrium and Allen’s interest after arranging a live “fucksaw” demonstration for a since-cancelled human sexuality class.

Background

Charlotte Irene Low Allen was on born April 7, 1943 in Jacksonville, Florida. Allen’s parent Elmer Carlton Low (1907-2000) was born in New York City and practiced personal injury law there before moving to Pasadena in 1943. Low was president of the California Trial Lawyers Association and wrote two books and some opinion pieces for the Los Angeles Times.

Allen’s spouse Donald Fraser Allen (born May 1, 1945) graduated from University of Toronto Faculty of Law and was a member of the California Bar from 1981 through 1997.

Charlotte Allen’s education and credentials:

  • Stanford University (B.A. 1965) classics and English
  • Harvard University (M.A. 1967)
  • University of Southern California (J.D. 1974)
  • State Bar of California (1974 through 1992)
  • Catholic University of America (Ph.D. 2011) medieval and Byzantine studies

Allen served as Law Editor for The Los Angeles Daily Journal from 1980 to 1985, then was appointed Senior Editor, Law at conservative publication Insight on the News at its founding in 1985. That publication closed in 2008. Allen has worked as a freelance writer for publications including:

  • Los Angeles Daily Journal
  • Insight on the News
  • Weekly Standard
  • Lingua Franca
  • Washington Post
  • Wall Street Journal
  • Atlantic Monthly
  • Commentary
  • New Republic
  • American Spectator
  • Los Angeles Times
  • New York Times
  • Washington Times
  • Insight
  • City Journal
  • Washington Monthly
  • First Things

Allen’s 2011 dissertation is titled Thirteenth-Century English Religious Lyrics, Religious Women, And the Cistercian Imagination. Allen is author of the 1998 book The Human Christ: The Search for the Historical Jesus.

My 2015 letter to Allen’s editors

Dear Weekly Standard editorial team:

Charlotte Allen contacted me for a story profiling J. Michael Bailey, a controversial psychologist with whom she was recently socializing in Chicago. You may recall a 2011 piece about Bailey in your publication which characterizes him as a “pimp” who arranges voyeuristic sex tours and demonstrations for interested parties like Ms. Allen.
http://www.weeklystandard.com/articles/lower-education_554092.html?page=1

For your records, I told Ms. Allen that understanding and reporting her story hinges on speaking directly with Danny Ryan, a child whose case report Bailey published in his 2003 book The Man Who Would Be Queen: The Science of Gender-Bending and Transsexualism. 

My condition for participating was that Ms. Allen speak with Danny Ryan directly. I fear that is not going to happen. I’m concerned she’s going to mischaracterize both the controversy and my involvement in it, given that her attached questions to me contain inaccurate interpretations of events.

I provided her the attached article explaining why both Bailey and his book have been widely condemned. Bailey had published an earlier version of his book without incident, and the 2003 response happened because:

  • 1) it was fraudulently marketed as science by the National Academy of Sciences.
  • 2) it became a cure narrative about gender-nonconforming children.

Bailey’s attacks on my children in his book were just part of his concurrent attacks on gender-nonconforming children, which also included “academic” presentations where he displayed videos and images of young children without their knowledge or consent in a manner that generated laughter from his audiences. Bailey also boasts that he can categorize these children sexually and can tell the kinds of sexual partners they will like. Ms. Allen seems focused on a long-deleted satire in which I showed how Bailey’s leering depictions and two-type sexualized categorization of my children would seem inexcusable if done to his own.

Bailey’s colleagues believe that gender-nonconforming children require “curing” in order to prevent what they consider a “bad outcome,” a gender transition. Most children who display gender-non-conforming behavior do not seek a gender transition later, and this outcome occurs without any intervention. Bailey’s colleagues make money by selling anxious parents on services they claim will cure many children. The World Professional Association for Transgender Health has stated such services are “no longer considered ethical.” Others are more pointed, condemning such services as “disturbingly close to reparative therapy for homosexuals” and “simply child abuse.”

Hundreds of children have been through these aversion programs championed by Bailey’s friend Kenneth Zucker, and not one has later come forward to talk about how it helped them. Danny Ryan is the most famous report of a cured child, yet no one has ever followed up directly with him to confirm Bailey’s published claims independently.

Danny Ryan has remarkable parallels to David Reimer, a case report by Bailey’s ideological nemesis John Money. The David Reimer case proved to be false when independently investigated. Some reporters continue to repeat Bailey’s claims about Danny Ryan uncritically, with no independent confirmation. Science and journalism proceed from evidence and facts, and there is no independent evidence that Bailey’s published facts about Danny Ryan are true.

Given that other case reports in Bailey’s book turned out to be inaccurate upon independent follow-up, the Weekly Standard has a unique opportunity to report this story accurately instead of taking Bailey at his word. Similar hard-hitting reporting on David Reimer brought John Money’s work into disrepute and made the career of the journalist who broke the story. A generation of children suffered because no one bothered to confirm Money’s claims, and I can’t sit by as another reporter is poised to miss the point of why Bailey has been criticized by people of every political persuasion.

Thanks for your time, and I would very much appreciate confirmation that you have received this note.

Sincerely, Andrea James
[email protected]
cc: Charlotte Allen
Attachments (2): 

  • 1. Charlotte Allen emails (PDF)
  • 2. Fair Comment, Foul Play: Populist Responses to J. Michael Bailey’s Exploitative “Controversies” (PDF)

Allen’s puff piece about Bailey ran with no mention of his exploitation of our children and a lawyerly defense of his “fucksaw” demonstration.

The Man Who Would Be Queen was deemed “salacious bigotry” by Andrea James, a 48-year-old Hollywood consultant who is the most persistently aggressive of the transgender activists. James spearheaded campaigns to have Northwestern censure and perhaps fire Bailey (unsuccessful), and to discredit Bailey as a credible academic expert on transgender subjects (extremely successful). 

Allen claims I declined to be interviewed “in a prolific series of Bailey-dissing emails.” Allen notes my criticism of Anne Lawrence, Ray Blanchard, and Kenneth Zucker. Zucker was fired later that year, and the clinic where Zucker and Blanchard were employed was closed following an investigation spurred by legislation that made anti-transgender reparative therapy illegal.

References

Epstein, Joseph (March 21, 2011). Lower Education: Sex toys and academic freedom at Northwestern. Weekly Standard https://www.weeklystandard.com/joseph-epstein/lower-education

Allen, Charlotte (March 2, 2015). The Transgender Triumph. Weekly Standard. https://www.weeklystandard.com/charlotte-allen/the-transgender-triumph

Allen, Charlotte (March 4, 2019). Trans men erase women. First Things https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2019/03/trans-men-erase-women

Hawkins, JA (January 1951). Elmer Low Family of Pasadena. Pasadena Museum of History https://calisphere.org/item/8de4632c37e661ae4ba402f4006bf984/

Hess, Amanda (March 12, 2008). Charlotte Allen Interview. Washington City Paper https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/city-desk/blog/13054285/charlotte-allen-interview

Staff report (August 17, 2000). Elmer C. Low; Headed State Trial Lawyers Assn. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-aug-17-me-5965-story.html

Resources

Stupid Girl [Allen’s blog] (blogstupidgirl.wordpress.com)

X/Twitter (x.com)

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